January 4, 1982 Little Rock, Ark.

Dearest Ron, Ann, Susanna & Jeannie, Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean and Roy,

I'm a day late with my letter but this week-end has been so busy there was no way I could get a letter written. The Powers' family came in Saturday about 4 p.m. and they left about noon today - we really enjoyed them but when a family of seven comes in it gets a little hectic. The weather was terrible all the time they were here - they arrived in a driving rain-storm and it stayed that way only with fog too until this morning and now it is beautiful. We had an open house here for them last night and even though it was a spur of the moment thing we had a lot of people - the Jordins, Gonces, Veda & Jim Lewis, Ken & Donna Smith, Joy Geisler, Marilyn & Dean Harris, Lusases, some of their neighbor friends, Peggy Miller and others I can't remember. It was more of a mad house and I thought Daddy was going to have a heart attack - there were a lot of kids downstairs and they wrestled. I can really see that we are getting old when we have company in like that - he kept saying, "It would be okay if they were family." The little twins are adorable - they're walking but refused to go to anyone except their mother and she looks completely worn out - they're quite big and she has to carry them most of the time when they visit like this - she said, "I don't know how people could do this if they had triplets", and Daddy said, "I would hope they would stay home" - he is so much like his mother and says the first thing that comes to his mind!!!!

We have had such a wonderful Christmas holiday and appreciate very much all the thoughtful things you did to make it special. We loved your visit Roy and Patrice and we hope Patrice was able to see the parts of Arkansas she wanted to - we have really loved the beautiful flowers she left for us and they added so much to our home last night for the party. I hope she was able to get her school work done - it is almost ridiculous for the faculty to think students should study during a brief Christmas vacation!!!!

Claire had to go to Oklahoma early Saturday morning and didn't come home until quite late night (I'm assuming she is home because we haven't heard from her.). Bon brought little Michael to church yesterday and they get along just fine- so many people remark how great it is for him to be able to care for him when Claire is gone like this - really he does most of the things for him. I'm sure Bob is glad to get back in the school routine again now. She has to go to New York this week-end - maybe we can help out then but we couldn't this one.

They called Daddy to teach science at Forest Heights for three days this week - he was so happy to be able to leave the house this morning he was ready an hour early. School teaching is so good for him - he says he is going to do it in January and February and then quit and go fishing. I am scheduled to go to Western Hills in the Reading Lab for a teacher whose baby is due the middle of January - I'm looking forward to that.

They are going to ask Johnny to be the disc jockey for the Gold and Green Ball at the stake center - he doesn't know it yet but he will be thrilled. That was opened up new horizons for him and he loves it - I worried so much about all his equipment during the week-end because we had a lot of kids in the house and they tend to migrate to his bedroom.

It has been so much fun to talk to Susanna and Ricky during the holidays - they are so sweet to remember us and we know it is because their parents help them and we appreciate that. We showed the picture that was taken Christmas Eve to everyone who came to the house and they all think you are all so "beautiful"!!!! That was really sweet of you, Jeannie, to get that it in the mail so we could have it for Roy & Patrice to see and all our friends - we can't get over how much little Barji has changed - we couldn't see that the others have changed that much but then we have had pictures of the Woolleys. The party at the Crawfords sounds so much fun - that would be a fun tradition to start when and if we ever get moved to Utah (that isn't right because I'm sure we will move there soon). Johnny was so cute the other day, he was talking about his family and said he could spend the rest of his life with just the family - he really loves all of you!!!!

I had started taking down our Christmas tree when I remember I hadn't written to you yesterday- I left it up to have it for the Powers' visit. I had better hurry and get some-thing down before Daddy comes home - he gets so much done on the days I teach - I don't like to work as hard as he does!!! We love you all so very much and hope you have a marvelous New Year.



Return to Home Page